Kent · England
Live paella catering in Hartley, Kent
Looking for paella catering in Hartley? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Big birthdays
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
Paella catering in Hartley
About our paella catering in Hartley
A single cooking set-up can feed a crowd, there is very little waste, and the food is served hot. It is why live paella suits so many kinds of event. For naming days and family parties and anniversaries and engagement parties, we will put together a menu of seafood paella, black rice and vegan paella.
In and around Hartley, gardens and local halls are common choices. If the road in is narrow, tell us so we can plan the van. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose.
The process
Expect a friendly, organised team. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up the pans and burners, and get on with cooking and serving. Planning an evening event in Hartley? Sunset is around 8:50pm in late May, 9:20pm at midsummer and 7:00pm in late September; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- We put together a menu and a clear quote.
- On the day we arrive in good time, set up and start the stock.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with any tapas served first.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Get a quote
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll suggest a menu. To start, use our quote form.
Related guides
What’s in the pans
Mixed paella
Mixed paella brings meat and seafood together, and it is often the first pan to empty.
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella isn’t an afterthought: peppers, artichokes and beans with saffron.
For planners, venues and organisers
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Hartley? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
What we need at the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. Here’s what we look for:
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
What we offer
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
How we price paella catering
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- The paellas you choose
- The number of people
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- The length of service
Larger events typically cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Details that help
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Anything your venue supplies
- A photo of the space, if you can
- The date and rough timings
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, use our quote form.
Planning for every diet
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Mention any other courses or food
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Ask for labels on each pan
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we time it carefully. If plans change, tell us and we will adjust.
Finish with churros, crema catalana or tarta de Santiago.
More for events in Hartley
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Live paella or other catering?
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is ready all at once, so everyone eats together. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why book with us
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Events in Hartley and across Kent
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
Take a look at Our pricing Or What paella catering costs.
Common questions in Hartley
Could we have live paella in Rectory Meadow?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, normally the council. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
How far is Hartley from London?
About 19 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Can we choose the seafood?
We’ll suggest seafood to suit your menu and budget. Premium shellfish can be added.
Is halal food available?
We can. Let us know your halal numbers, and we’ll cook a separate pan.
What equipment do you bring?
We bring all the cooking equipment. Let us know what your venue has, like tables or crockery.
Is paella a full meal?
It can be. With bread and salad, paella is a complete main, and tapas or dessert can be added.
Can you cater for children?
Of course. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Include children in your numbers.
Should we have more than one paella?
Usually two or three, so every guest has a choice. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
Paella catering around Hartley
Hartley is about 4 miles south-west of Northfleet, in Kent. Give us the address of your event in Hartley, and we will plan access and set-up before the day. Hartley is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent we cover. You can also see our page for London, about 19 miles away.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Longfield station, about 0.8 miles north-west. Historic houses near Hartley include Cobham College (3.9 miles east). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one. Hartley is within about 7 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
For paella catering in DA3, we plan around your venue and your guests. Local streets include Church Road, Dickens Close and Stack Lane; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Longfield (1 mile north), New Barn (1 mile north-east), Longfield Hill (1 mile east), New Ash Green (1 mile south) and Nash Street (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (13 miles south-east), Dartford (5 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (9 miles south-west), Gravesend (4 miles north-east), Tonbridge (13 miles south) and Northfleet (4 miles north-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Darent Valley Hospital (4 miles north-west) and Stone Castle (4.1 miles north). Open spaces near Hartley include Sawyers Lake.
- Nearby schools include Longfield Academy (0.7 miles north)
- Local pubs include Railway Tavern (0.9 miles north)
- Cooked live in giant pans at your event
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options
- Paella, tapas, canapés and desserts
- Sangria, bar staff, crockery and waiting staff